OSAP Income Verification – Student or Spouse

Issue
A student’s OSAP application may show unverified income when OSAP is unable to verify the income of the student or spouse.
Important: If income cannot be verified, the student may be at risk of having their OSAP grant converted into a loan.
Common Reasons
Income verification may be required when:
The student or spouse is new to Canada (less than 12 months).
The student or spouse did not file taxes in the previous year.

What the FAA Must Do
If the student’s OSAP application displays:
CURRENT STUDENTS WITH UNVERIFIED INCOME
FAA NEEDS TO FOLLOW UP WITH CCO UNTIL THE NOTE ON STUDENT’S APPLICATION IS CLEARED
The FAA must follow up with the CCO Administrator until the note is cleared from the student’s OSAP application.

Resolution Process
Step 1 – Determine Whether a 2022 Tax Return Was Filed
If the Student or Spouse Filed a 2022 Tax Return
The student must:
Obtain a copy of the 2022 Notice of Assessment (NOA) issued by the CRA.
Upload the NOA to their OSAP application.
The FAA sends a message to the CCO Administrator.
Continue following up until the income verification note is cleared.

If the Student or Spouse Did NOT File a 2022 Tax Return
The student or spouse should:
File the 2022 income tax return with the CRA as soon as possible.
Obtain the Notice of Assessment (NOA) once available.
Submit the NOA to the FAA.
The FAA sends a message to the CCO Administrator once the documentation is complete.
Follow up until the OSAP income verification note is cleared.

Step 2 – If There Was a Valid Reason for Not Filing
If the student or spouse did not file a 2022 income tax return because:
They were not a resident of Canada in 2022, or
They did not obtain a SIN until 2018,
they need to complete an Income Verification Form.

Required Documents
1. Student and Spouse Income Verification Form
The required income verification document must be completed.
2. Proof of 2022 Income
Provide proof of income earned during 2022.
Acceptable examples listed in the source include:
Employer letter
Tax returns
Other supporting income documentation
If income documentation is unavailable, proceed to the affidavit process.

If Income Documentation Is Unavailable
Two Affidavits Are Required
Prepare:
One affidavit from the student
One affidavit from the spouse
Each affidavit must provide the following information.
A. Residency in 2022
State:
Country where the person resided in 2022
State/province where they lived in 2022
B. Arrival in Canada
State when the person came to Canada.
C. Total 2022 Gross Income
State the total gross income before deductions received during 2022.
If the amount was zero, state that the income was $0.
If foreign income was received, identify the foreign income amount.
D. Currency
Identify the currency in which the income was received, if applicable.
E. Why Official Documentation Is Unavailable
Explain why official tax documentation or employer documentation cannot be provided.
Important: Arbitrary reasons for not providing requested documentation are not sufficient grounds for accepting an affidavit instead of acceptable documentation.
If applicable, explain that the student/spouse earned a low amount of income and that, in their country, individuals earning below a certain amount are not required to file an income tax return.
F. CRA Assessment
Explain that the student/spouse was not in Canada and therefore did not submit a CRA tax assessment.

Document Submission
Admissions
Admissions should upload the required documents to the student’s OSAP application.
If the Timeline Has Passed
If the required timeline has passed:
The FAA must collect the completed Student Income Verification Form and supporting documentation.
Send the completed form and documents to the CCO Administrator.
Send via:
E-Fax: 647-494-8818
Email: CCO Administrator
Continue following up until the issue is cleared.

Quick Decision Tree
Does the student/spouse have a 2022 tax return?
YES
→ Obtain 2022 NOA
→ Student uploads NOA
→ FAA contacts CCO Administrator
→ Follow up until cleared
NO
Was there a reason such as non-residency in Canada in 2022 or the specified SIN circumstance?
→ YES: Complete Income Verification Form
→ Provide 2022 income documentation
→ If documentation is unavailable, provide two affidavits
→ Admissions uploads documents to OSAP
→ FAA contacts CCO Administrator
→ NO: File the 2022 tax return with CRA
→ Obtain NOA
→ Submit NOA to FAA
→ FAA contacts CCO Administrator
→ Follow up until cleared

Escalation
CCO Administrator
If the income verification issue remains unresolved, the FAA must continue following up with the CCO Administrator until the note is cleared from the student’s OSAP application.
E-Fax: 647-494-8818
Email: CCO Administrator